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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "i will like you to " (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
- "the consignment" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: "Mrs.Hjelm" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <hjingrid12@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2016 07:12:43 -0700
Subject: GOOD DAY
Hello dear my name is Hjelm Ingrid
I am from Denmark Jewish married an American Syrian. He was a contractor in Damascus and we owe a big steel industry and member of Syrian National Counsel. My husband was murdered by military boys loyal to President Assad in 2015 because he gave him advice to step down and let peace reign.
Assad killed him and my only daughter and made me a widow and childless. What I have remaining now is my grand daughter. My reason of contacting you is to seek for your assistance in relocating my late husband money. I have been able to gather our money, our gold and jewelries. I want to relocate to your country with my grand daughter where we will be safe and she can have a quality education and a good life.
I have contacted a UN diplomatic envoy who can assist me transfer my consignment our of here but he will need to speak with someone before he will accept carrying my consignment. I did not tell him that the consignment box contains money. All I told him was that it contains gold jewelries and some confidential company documents and he has agreed to transport it out of Syria and bring it to your country while I take my grand daughter and leave the country through Turkish border.
I am seriously in need of someone that could be trusted. Please help me. Name how much I will pay you to assist me in this and I will pay you. When I come to your country I will like you to assist me invest my money into real estate and any other lucrative business over there.
Please get back to me if my request has found your blessing. Best regard
Hjelm Ingrid
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Anti-fraud resources:
